Boiler water systems require continuous monitoring to ensure that the water conditions in your boiler is maintained within safe operating limits at all times. Incorrect maintenance of boiler water quality can lead to accumulation of scale, corrosion and reduced steam purity. Steam purity is also important if the steam is used for contact with food or for use in steam turbines whereby turbine blades can be damaged. Swan of Switzerland has developed a line of boiler water analysers specifically for high pressure steam operations. These analysers is use in many coal, oil fired and nuclear powered plant all over the world. Swan’s professional boiler water analysers allows highly accurate and stable record of the quality of your steam, boiler water and condensate to allow timely corrective actions to be taken in case of outages. Swan Indonesia provides a complete line of analysers to monitor your boiler water quality. Conductivity in a power plant is the most important parameter monitored. Conductivity can be measured directly and this is called specific or total conductivity or after passing through a cation column, called the cationic conductivity. Swan cationic conductivity analysers has an integrated cation column in the analyser making its maintenance simple. Another conductivity that can be measured is the degassed conductivity where the contribution of carbon dioxide to the conductivity of the boiler water is removed. This can allow you faster start up of boiler plant after a layout and is especially effective for cycling power plant.

Swan monitor AMI powercon for measuring specific conductivity

Specific Conductivity Analyser – Monitor AMI Powercon

This analyser allows continuous monitoring of the specific or total conductivity. It is a complete system with transmitter, a high precision conductivity sensor and a flow cell with a needle valve and digital sample flow meter. Every meter is factory tested, calibrated and ready for use. The AMI Powercon comes with two signal outputs for measured values, two relays as limit switches or as controllers, alarm relays and an input for potential free contact. Measuring range is 0.055 to 1000µS/cm, temperature up to 50°C and inlet pressure of 2 bar. The outlet is to atmosphere. Sample inlet is swagger lock ¼ inch

Swan Monitor powercon acid for measuring cationic conductivity

Cationic Conductivity Analyser – Monitor AMI Powercon acid

This analyser allows continuous monitoring of the cationic conductivity. It is a complete system with transmitter, a high precision conductivity sensor and a flow cell with a needle valve and digital sample flow meter. For measurement of cationic conductivity a nuclear grade cation column is included complete with desecration. Every meter is factory tested, calibrated and ready for use.
The AMI Powercon comes with two signal outputs for measured values, two relays as limit switches or as controllers, alarm relays and an input for potential free contact. Measuring range is 0.055 to 1000µS/cm, temperature up to 50°C and inlet pressure of 2 bar. The outlet is to atmosphere. Sample inlet is swagger lock ¼ inch.

Swan oxytrace QED dissolved oxygen analyzer

Trace Dissolved Oxygen Analyser – Monitor AMI Oxytrace QED

Oxygen in boiler water promotes corrosion. The levels is often not zero but maintained at trace levels to promote the formation of magnetite, the corrosion protective layer inside boilers. As such the accuracy and precision of trace oxygen levels is very important. Swan AMI Oxytrace has been designed to measure trace oxygen levels in high pressure and nuclear power boilers. Swan Indonesia supplies the Monitor AMI Oxytrace QED analyser to ensure proper control of your oxygen levels in the boiler. This high precision instrument has a three electrode Oxytrace G sensor for the continuous measurement of trace levels of dissolved oxygen in boiler water. To maintain the high accuracy the analyser is equipped with a Faraday electrode to verify measurements at ppb levels.
The range is 0-20 ppm with automatic air pressure and temperature compensation. This analyser is equipped with a flow cell made of acrylic glass with needle valve, faraday electrode and digital sample flow meter. The complete system is mounted on stainless steel panel. The Swan AMI Oxytrace comes with two signal outputs for measured values, two relays as limit switches or as controllers, alarm relays and an input for potential free contact. The temperature of the sample is up to 50°C and inlet pressure of 2 bar. The outlet is to atmosphere. Sample inlet is swagger lock ¼ inch. The analyser is factory tested and ready for use.

Swan phosphate II analyzer

Phosphate Analyser – AMI phosphate II

Phosphate is sometimes added into the boiler to control corrosion. Controlling the level of phosphate is important for proper operation. Swan Indonesia supplies the AMI phosphate II for use in high and low pressure boilers. This analyser is a colorimetric analyser based on the ISO 6878 method for phosphate measurement. The measuring range is from 0.01 to 10 ppm. This instrument comes complete with measurement and control electronics, photometer, flow indicator, reaction chamber, reagent dosing system and reagent containers. The instrument is factory tested and calibrated. It has a optional dual channel stream or AMI sample sequencer up to 6 sample streams. Communication interface are RS 232, profibus, Modbus or USB.

Swan sodium P analyzer for sodium

Sodium Analyser AMI sodium P or AMI Soditrace.

Sodium is monitored in boiler water to check for ingress of sea water and to ensure that the steam does not transfer sodium chloride to the turbine where it will cause stress corrosion cracking. Swan sodium analyser AMI sodium P analyser is used for boiler whose pH is greater than 7. For waters with other pH ask the friendly Arasains Indonesia sales staff. The alkalization reagent used is isopropyl amine. Calibration is easy with a two point calibration. Grab samples can also be made using the analyser. The range for sodium P analyser is 0.1-10000 ppb. The response time is 150 secs and accuracy is ±5% of reading. Sample water is from 0 to 45°C and ammonia concentration is ≤10ppm.

What level of conductivity should be maintained in a high pressure boiler?

Answer

Ultra pure water has a conductivity of 0.055µS/cm. However this is difficult to maintain in a boiler due to dissolution of iron in water, leakages in condenser and other reasons. The purer the water the less is the release rate of iron into the boiler water. For an oxygenated water system of 200ppb of oxygen, the release rate of iron at 100°C with a conductivity of 0.15µS/cm is 2.23 g/m2d whilst at a conductivity of 0.93µS/cm it is 6.9g/m2d

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Why is conductivity the most important parameter measured in boiler water?

Answer

Contamination of boiler water is usually by salts eg sodium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium salts is the cause of hardness in water and can cause scaling in boiler. These salts are removed by ion exchange columns but they can be exhausted and needs regeneration. Conductivity measurement can be used to tell when this is necessary. Salts also seeps into the boiler water through leaks in the condensers. Conductivity is the easiest and cheapest measurements to carry this out.

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How does degassed conductivity save money for power plants?

Answer

Startup of boilers after shutdown is dependent of conductivity measurements. During shut down the conductivity usually goes up due to co2 absorption and release of iron, seepage of salts, non-stable operation of resin plants etc. As such the turbine is off loaded to ensure the turbine does not accumulate salts from the boiler. The salt content rapidly decreases but is effect of co2 lasts. Degassed conductivity removes the conductivity due to co2 and allows the boiler to start up much faster. Faster start up can pay for the degassed conductivity in a short time.

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For more information on the above tests contact the friendly Arasains sales staff or fill in the enquiry form.